A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto Vallarta vs. Reno for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Puerto Vallarta or Reno?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Puerto Vallarta and Reno can help you decide which place is right for you.

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is a coastal, colorful, and laid-back town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Reno

Reno is a energetic, growing, and vibrant city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Puerto Vallarta and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Puerto Vallarta or Reno?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Puerto Vallarta. Although Puerto Vallarta and Reno are popular destinations, Puerto Vallarta has more sights and attractions for tourists. Puerto Vallarta is more touristy than Reno and is popular for its natural beauty and vibrant nightlife. It is also well known for the Malecon. Reno is famous for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Puerto Vallarta different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Reno and Puerto Vallarta. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Puerto Vallarta or Reno?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Puerto Vallarta or Reno.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Puerto Vallarta. There are a number of historical sights around town like Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

Is the Food Better in Puerto Vallarta or Reno? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Puerto Vallarta has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The charming character combined with the authentic local cuisine makes for a wonderful culinary experience. There's everything from taco stands to romantic restaurants that you can try.

Reno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Both Puerto Vallarta and Reno are great when it comes to partying.

Puerto Vallarta offers plenty to do in the evening. You'll find a mix of active clubs, cozy bars, and cosmopolitan cafes. Head to the Romantic Zone or Los Muertos Beach for some of the best places.

Reno has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Reno Better for Resorts?

Puerto Vallarta is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Reno is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Puerto Vallarta is a great choice. There are many different places to stay from all-inclusive resorts to high end hotels or beachfront properties.

Reno is not a resort destination.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Reno Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Reno is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Puerto Vallarta. Divers in the area may get to experience once in a lifetime opportunities like diving with manta rays, dolphins, whale sharks, hammerheads, or schools of jacks.

Reno is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Reno Better for Beaches?

Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place to visit for the beach. However, Reno is not a beach destination.

Puerto Vallarta is considered a top beach destination. There are many beaches spread out around town that have soft sand and blue water. Most have all of the amenities you could need. Popular beaches include Playa de los Muertos, Playa Mismaloya, and Playa Conchas Chinas.

Reno is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Puerto Vallarta or Reno?

Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Puerto Vallarta. There's a mix of shopping malls, open-air markets, boutiques, and international brands.

Reno is a great destination for shopping. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Reno Better for Families?

Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Puerto Vallarta. Kids will love the water parks and thrilling activities, such as Aquaventuras Water Park or Los Veranos Canopy Tour. There's rock climbing and ropes courses at Las Animas Aventura Park. You'll also find horseback riding and even pirate boat tours in the area.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Reno Better for Couples?

Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Puerto Vallarta makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples looking for a romantic getaway will enjoy sunset boat trips, horseback riding, and adventure sports. There are also many restaurants where you can enjoy a romantic dinner or a refreshing drink.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Reno Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Reno is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Puerto Vallarta. There are hostels around, as well as many adventure sports or thrilling activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Reno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really on the backpacker circuit so you won't find any real hostels in town.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Reno Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Puerto Vallarta is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Reno is lacking in options for its public transit.

Puerto Vallarta has some public transit options. There are blue, green or orange buses that travel around town.

Public transit is generally limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Reno a more walkable city?

Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

Puerto Vallarta is a very walkable destination. There are several walkable neighborhoods in town such as 5 de Diciembre, el Centro, and Zona Romantica.

Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Puerto Vallarta Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Puerto Vallarta?

How long in Puerto Vallarta or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Puerto Vallarta and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than in Reno. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Puerto Vallarta, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

Families should spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than Reno. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Puerto Vallarta, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than Reno. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Puerto Vallarta that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than Reno if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Puerto Vallarta.

One day in Puerto Vallarta or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Puerto Vallarta. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

The vibrant destination of Reno offers nightlife and food. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Puerto Vallarta or Reno?

Puerto Vallarta is a fun place to experience. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The city of Reno offers food and shopping. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Puerto Vallarta or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the cultural destination of Puerto Vallarta. This town offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Reno is a great place to explore. This city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Puerto Vallarta or Reno?

The laid-back town of Puerto Vallarta offers shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Reno. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Vallarta and Reno, we can see that Reno is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Vallarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Vallarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Vallarta and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Reno would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reno than you might in Puerto Vallarta.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive? and Is Reno Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Puerto Vallarta or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Puerto Vallarta. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Vallarta and Reno, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.